Le Pigeonnier

Venture outside Le Pigeonnier - and Longeveau's fantastic facilities - and the family will discover this beautiful region's unique appeal.

Saint-Séverin
There are a number of pretty villages within easy reach of Longeveau, with the nearest being Saint-Séverin just 5km away.
The village is home to several small shops, including a bakery, butcher, chemist and supermarket and there is also a popular small market every Thursday morning.

Aubeterre-Sur-Dronne
Travel about the same distance in the opposite direction and you'll discover Aubeterre-Sur-Dronne, officially one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Clinging to the hillside above the river Dronne, the village features narrow streets, shady squares and a host of interesting architecture.
The puppet theatre in the central square, showing classic tales such as Beauty and the Beast and Ali Baba, is a huge draw for children and adults alike. The shows are extremely popular and booking is essential.
The village is most famous for its Underground Church of St Jean, or monolithic church, carved out of the rock. Its size is impressive and, at 20m at its highest point, the tallest in the world. A stone staircase leads up to the first floor where there is a spectacular view of the interior.
Another church worth visiting is the Romanesque St Jacques, boasting a beautiful 12th century facade with finely carved arches.
For picnics and paddling, the river beach is a great attraction and fresh sand is shipped in at the start of every summer. There's also a children's playground, canoeing, kayaking and fishing - plus a great cafe.

Bonnes
Bonnes is another pretty village in a lovely location on the Dronne river and less than half an hour from Longeveau.
Here you'll find a pony club for children of all ages and abilities and a wonderful 11km countryside walk, Circuit de Bonnes.
A festival is held in August when the grand finale is a spectacular fireworks display.

Riberac
An attractive, but relatively quiet town, Riberac comes alive on a Friday morning when it stages a market, reputedly one of the biggest and best in the Dordogne.
Just 16km from Longeveau, there are also lots of local shops, including wine caves, a couple of big supermarkets and plenty of child-friendly restaurants.
Free music evenings are held in the town square on Tuesday nights in July and August.

La Jemaye
This little hamlet is well-known for its large lake with beaches, a play area and family-friendly eateries and is an easy half-an-hour's drive from Le Pigeonnier.
There are also woodland walks and a hide to watch the birds on the lake and, during July and August, sporting activities and events are held.

Angoulème
The capital of Charente, Angoulème is a lovely city featuring stunning architecture, traditional markets and beautiful gardens.
A 45-minute drive from Longeveau, take the time to relax in one of the many pavement cafes or dine in a choice of family-friendly restaurants.
The city is the world capital for Bande Dessinée - comic strip - and many of the buildings are decorated in this style. There's even a museum dedicated to the art.
In Angoulème's mountain shopping zone you'll find Kizou Adventures - an indoor playground with ball pools, ropes and soft play, for youngsters aged from six months to 10 years.
And just outside the city is the fabulous Plan d'Eau water lake with several sandy beaches and a wide range of water sports.

Cognac
Cognac has been making the grape-based spirit for more than 300 years and is about an hour's drive from Longeveau.
By the river you'll discover ancient warehouses that still store barrels of cognac and are blackened by the alcohol evaporating.
A cruise on a replica gabarre, the traditional flat-bottomed oak boat that once transported cognac, salt and other produce, is a great way to see the town from the river and takes about two hours.
Back on dry land, step back in time to find out more about the town's history, by following the signposted walking routes.
Of course one of the most popular tourist attractions is a tour of one - or more - of the many cognac producers to find out about the drink's history, how it is made and sample a tasting.
Near to the town is the fun-packed Les Antilles de Jonzac indoor water park which, as well as being one of the largest in Europe, has attractions for youngsters and adults alike.
Little ones can make a splash in the main lagoon with beaches, palm trees, a tropical glasshouse, slides and water toboggan ride.
And for more serious swimmers there's a 25m sports pool with games and events organised for children and teenagers.
Grown-ups can enjoy Turkish and Roman baths, a sauna, jacuzzis, solarium, fully-equipped fitness area, and a variety of beauty and spa treatment treatments.

Saint-Emilion
A little further afield, Saint-Emilion is one of the four Bordeaux wine regions and produces some of the finest wine in the world.
The village, about an hour-and-a-quarter from Le Pigeonnier, is surrounded by vineyards and chateaux.
With its pretty winding streets, pavement cafes, restaurants, local shops, and historical buildings and monuments, the village is a 'must-see'.
The Romanesque church features a beautiful 14th century cloister and from the top of the bell tower you'll be rewarded with magnificent views over the town and surrounding vineyards.
There's also a great outlook from the top of the Chateau du Roy 13th century donjon in the centre of town.
Guided tours take in the catacombs and impressive buried monolithic church, the biggest in Europe, hidden deep beneath the village in a labyrinth of passages and rooms.
There's also an underground pottery museum with exhibits from the Roman period to modern day.

Beaches
A sunshine holiday in France is bound to include a day trip to the beach and there are a number of lovely sandy stretches about a two-hour drive from Longeveau.
Among the best nearby seaside resorts are Arcachon and Royan.
Arcachon boasts superb sandy beaches, a picturesque sea-front promenade, plenty of shops, bars and eateries and the town's signature architecture - stained glass, ornate balconies and intricate brickwork.
The resort is also home to Aqualand, a fun-packed water park with rides and slides for all ages which is open from June to September.
Royan's beaches are, arguably, the finest in France and the main 2km long La Grande Conche has a special children's section with a variety of activities and a lifeguard in the summer.
North of the town is a series of sandy coves and further north still are unspoilt and wild stretches of beach.

And more....
A host of other leisure activities are available within the local area from jet skiing and quad biking to mini-golf and go-karting.
The local villages and towns also host a variety of family-friendly festivals, fetes and fireworks displays throughout the summer.